The School Committee has been studying the athletic eligibility policy since 2009.
The Chicopee Comprehensive High School girls' basketball takes on Longmeadow in this February game. CHICOPEE – Students will have to pass one more class and keep an overall grade point average that is slightly higher than passing if they want to play sports next fall.
The School Committee adopted a new athletic eligibility policy Wednesday in 8-3 votes. It calls for students to pass five of their seven courses and maintain a 65 percent grade point average to play. The passing grade is 60 percent.
The committee has been studying the policy since 2009 when high school students approached them concerned that the current rules that require students to pass four classes is not strict enough. The policy, which meets minimum standards set by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, is one of the weakest among area school districts.
The new policy makes an exception for Chicopee Academy, the city’s alternative school. Since students take just five classes at a time they will only have pass four to play. It also allows a one-time waiver for students who have a reason for failing the requirement.
A School Committee task force of students, teachers, coaches and parents studied changes and proposed the new standards.
The School Committee needed a two-thirds majority, or eight votes, to pass the policy. It also suspended the rules to take a final vote this week so students and educators could prepare for the change. Grade point average this spring will determine eligibility next fall.
It will continue to review the policy to see the impact it has on the sports program. At the same time the committee agreed to consider requiring students to meet the same requirements to participate in clubs and other after-school activities.
Much of the debate centered around the question of whether the new policy is strict enough.
“I want the rigor increased but not at this level,” School Committee member Chester J. Szetela said.
Athletes can still fail two classes each semester and earn a D average. They could play sports every year without ever passing required courses such as math and English, he said.
Szetela, who voted against the policy, also argued conduct and effort should be considered in eligibility requirements.
But others, including Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr., argued against making the policy too strict too soon.
Rege said he supports requiring students to pass five classes but questioned if it is right to hold athletes to a higher standard by requiring them to earn a 65 grade point average when passing grades are 60 percent.
“I’m concerned by trying to do too much too soon we will increase our drop-out rate,” he said.
Committee member David G. Barsalou called it a modest change that was appropriate. He reminded other members students sometimes fail courses no matter how hard they try, especially when they take a class in a new subject area.
“A ‘C’ is considered an average grade. I don’t know when this mind set changed that a kid had to be an A or B student,” he said.
Others agreed, saying the School Committee can always make the eligibility requirements stricter in the future.
“It is a baby step but it is the right baby step,” Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello, a committee member said.